Asylum Christi: a story of the Dragonnades

Chapter I

It is said that sleep visits the fisherman's hut as readily as the nobleman's chateau ; but Philippe and his father did not feel the truth of this saying when they lay down on Sunday night on two hard pallet-beds in an inner room. The cabin, which was of wood tarred on the outside, was built on a piece of rock only a few feet above high-water mark, exposed to all the fury of the wind from the sea, though sheltered by a high cliff on the landward side. It had once been a coastguard station, and was there fore more roomy than fishermen's huts usually are ; but the wooden walls creaked and swayed and groaned and creaked all through the night, and again and again the boy would start up and VOL. II. B rub his eyes, and cry " Oui va la ? " and his father would answer "It is only the wind, mon enfant, lie down and sleep again."

And Henri, who slept in another chamber, kept starting at the sound of Philippe's voice, thinking, in his half sleep, that it was Marie calling to him ; for the voices of brother and sister were so nearly of one tone and cadence that it was hard to distinguish them. But when the morning came, and with it came gurgling and washing and splashing about the windy rock, waves that were sparkling in the slanting sunlight, Henri came in to bid them rise and break their fast, for his pinnace which was to convey them to the sloop was already nearing the shore. ■ As Philippe stood on the verge of the slippery rock, cracking the sea-weed beneath his feet and inhaling tbe fresh sea-breeze, Henri and the sieur were busy looking to the transfer of some valuables which had just arrived in a cart. " You will see that these are delivered in London to the care of Monsieur le Marquis de Ruvigny," said the sieur to Henri, "so that in case anything untoward happens to me, my family may have some means of subsistence till Monsieur de la Bruyere can refund the value of my estates in Normandy.

And now let us to breakfast." That day was spent in sailing to the sloop with the sieur's jewels, etc., and it was almost dark when they returned, for it was necessary that she should stand off lest suspicion should be raised among the guard that patrolled the coast ; for at this time Louis had given orders that all the frontiers should be closely guarded, as it was no part of his policy to drive away from the kingdom the most industrious and prosperous subjects he possessed, as the Huguenots were, especially in the North of France. And to quicken and stimulate the capture of intending refugees, it had been ordered that the person who laid information against a fugitive should have a claim on half his goods. But in spite of this, thousands escaped through the connivance of the Catholic peasantry, who risked their liberty to assist those whom they believed to be cruelly persecuted, and Pelisson's bribes, which ranged from five to a hundred livres, for the conversion of heretics, produced but a scanty harvest.

Converts were scarce, although they were exempted by a special law from quartering the king's troops for two years. But to return to the fugitives. Henri had strongly advised the sieur to leave Philippe on board the sloop, where he at least would be safe from all risk; but the boy had pleaded with tears in his eyes that he might be allowed to share his father's danger, and much against his judgment, De Cornelli had given him permission to accompany him. The horses were brought round to the cabin at nightfall, and Henri, who was to stay in command of the pinnace, kissed Philippe and whispered in his ear — " Tell your sister that my life shall be for hers and those she loves — adieu ! " And Philippe and his father rode out into the darkness to meet the coach, turning as they crossed the downs to look back upon the sea, where a tiny light was visible, not far, apparently, from the shore.

" It is the sloop! " said the sieur ; " she stands close in for us to-night." They rode on long in silence, stopping now and then to catch, if possible, the sound of wheels. The road was tolerably straight, but so indented with hill and dale that even in full moonlight it would not have been easy to see any one advancing from afar, and the night was cloudy, letting in the struggling moon beams only through occasional rifts between the clouds. A village clock struck one as they passed a church some ten miles from the coast ; shortly after they drew rein and entered an open shed which stood off the road. " They ought to be here by this time," ex claimed the sieur, as he struck a light on his flint and consulted his chronometer. Another half-hour went by, and yet they did not appear. The sieur looked at the priming of his pistols and sat with clenched teeth ; at last a faint noise of horse-hoofs was borne to their ears.

" Philippe, ride forth and see who comes." After a pause — "It is a single horseman, papa, and he is riding at full speed." The sound of galloping grew louder ; the sieur rode out and summoned the rider to halt. At this moment the moon shone out, and a mutual recognition took place. " Why ! Guillebert, is that you ? is anything amiss ? " cried the sieur. " All is lost ! Save yourself, sire ; the king's troops are about ! " '' What ? have they arrested madame ? " " Malheureusement oui, monseigneur ! " cried the farmer ; " we fought while we could, but they were too many for us, and then they led madame back to the chateau. Constant and many another lie dead ! " " Poor Constant ! he has been a faithful friend — and Pierre ? " " Ah, he. killed his man admirably well ! At first he tried to drive through the regiment of dragoons, but when they shot one of his horses, he cried out, ' I am for living in peace and charity with all men ; but if you want to fight, come on ! ' At the same instant he discharged his piece at an officer at five paces, and blew a moiety of • his skull off; but, monseigneur, they were too many for us, these booted and spurred gentleman of the king, and madame begged us to desist firing,, and stop further bloodshed, and then the rest were guarded back to the chateau.

But I pray you return and get on board ship, for you are sought for." The sieur did not answer at once. The ruin of all his projects and the death of his trusty servants overwhelmed him with grief ; at lenoth he answered — " I thank thee, my honest friend, for riding thus far to warn me of the danger in which we stand, and were I alone, to fly would be a duty ; but seeing that my wife and daughter are in the hands of ruffians who may maltreat them it is my purpose to return home. They will vent their wrath, perhaps, on me, and leave the women alone." " But fear you not that they will send you to the galleys ? " " I fear it not, Guillebert ; they cannot prove my intention to cross the frontier, and I hope my services to the king will weigh for some thing." Poor Philippe rode back with his father, and never a song sang he ; the little bird that piped so merrily as they rode forth was mute under this thunderclap of adversity, and his lip quivered and eye moistened at the thought of his mother and Marie in the hands of the dragoons.

Guillebert pressed his seigneur to take refuge in his farmhouse, which, as being the home of a Catholic, would not be likely to be searched ; but De Cornelli was determined to go home come what might. Soon after they had joined the road leading to Avranches a party of dragoons was heard advancing from the direction of Coutances. The three horsemen leapt their horses over a stone wall and concealed themselves in a plan tation by the road. The dragoons came by at a hand-gallop; they were escorting a carriage, which was closed round with curtains, and did not observe the sieur ; but Philippe, as they passed, thought he recognized in the faint grey dawn, the shape of his father's carriage, and his heart beat violently at the thought of those whom it might contain. It was growing light when they entered in at the stone archway, but nobody appeared to open the great gates.

Pierre's mother had evidently gone, for her windows were all smashed in, and her furniture lay strewn about the grass — an evil omen, that smote deeply on the heart of monseigneur ! Guillebert left them at the gate, renewing his offers of help, if ever they should be thought of avail. Instead of riding straight to the chateau they turned off to the left towards the stables. These they found crammed full with the horses of the dragoons, which had been stabled three in a stall, as close as they could pack ; one or two long-legged soldiers lay on the straw, sound asleep, and two or three empty flagons be tokened the good cheer which had preceded the repose. They took care not to disturb these gentry, and rode on till they came to the kennels, which had as yet escaped the notice of the dragoons ; here they stabled their horses, fed them, and made their way on foot to the chateau.

The lord of the chateau felt like a thief steal ing in unobserved ; but unlike a thief, he found the doors all open, and valuables tossed about on the floor. A sentry stood in the entrance hall, leaning on his long sword, but his head was bowed upon his hands, and his eyes were shut ; he snored contemptuously as they passed him by unchallenged. The sieur motioned to his son to step quietly, as together they as cended the great staircase and sought madame's private apartments. At the door they stopped and listened ; all was still, but through the key hole they saw a dim light was burning. They tried to open the door, but it was locked ; then noiselessly they passed along the corridor to the sieur's dressing-room, of which he had the key. This they entered, and passed through into an inner chamber, which the sieur used as a study at night, and which had a door opening into madame's bed-chamber.

They were sur prised to find a fire burning on the hearth, and a pot boiling on the fire. The door leading to the bed-room stood ajar, they could hear the rustling of a woman's dress, as they hesitated. "Jesus, have mercy on us!" exclaimed a voice. It was old Mathilde, who had seen two figures, in the gloaming, and knew not who they were. " Ah, pardon ! c'est monseigneur, n'est ce pas ?" she continued, shading her eyes with her hand. " How is it now with madame ? " asked the sieur, as the old nurse came in and warmed her hands over the fire, for the morning was chill, and her bones had been frozen with the long midnight drive. " She will do now ; she is in a gracious sleep, Jesus be praised ! " answered the old woman, nodding her head. " And where are the young ladies, Mathilda ? " " Oh, Sancta Maria ! does not monseigneur know that they have been sent to Mont St. Michel ?

Madame, poor soul, would have gone too, but she was too ill." " It is better so ! " said the sieur, thought fully ; " there, at least, they are safe from violence and shame ; but what noise is that I hear ? " A curious kind of wail came from the next room as he. spoke. " That noise ? Mais oui, monseigneur, c'est le petit ! " " Le petit ! Quel petit ? " asked De Cornelli, with a puzzled look. Mathilde eyed her master from head to foot as a born ignoramus, and replied — ■ " Well ! I never did — no, never ! Is it possible, then, that monseigneur was not ex pecting another child to arrive ? " " Quoi ! say you the baby is born ? " " Aye, born indeed ! and as proper a little boy as ever saw daylight ; though, to be sure, I had set him down for a scholard. But he's no puny, he isn't ; he soon stirred himself at the rumpus them dragoon fellows made ; he roared as loud as the loudest of them.

Aye, he's a pretty bit of handiwork, that he be !" The sieur had not stayed to hear the end of the old crone's eulogy ; on tip-toe he stole to his wife's bedside. She slept, and by her side nestled a little being, fresh from the hand of his maker, all unconscious of pope, or Calvin, or Luther. He kissed the pale forehead, and beckoned to Philippe to come and see his new little brother, and Mathilde stood in the door way grinning with unfeigned satisfaction ; then they all crept out again, and Mathilde urged the sieur to take refuge in the white tower, whence he could come out at night and visit his wife in safety. "It is a good thought, gossip," replied the sieur ; " let some trusty servant bring us food. I know where to get the keys ; but we must haste, for the morning breaks, and these ruffians will be about soon."

When Beretti had been locked up in the upper chamber of the white tower, he was still unconscious from the blow he had received in his fall, and when he came to himself he was a long time before he could make out where he was. A strange chamber, lit only by a very narrow slit in the wall, which seemed to have been invented for the purpose of letting in the cold wind rather than light, circular walls of stone, the absence of even a chair or table — all these things convinced him that he was in a dungeon. For an hour or two he paced up and down, pausing at times .before the loop-hole in the wall to peer forth ; but all he could see was the swaying of the great cedar boughs, all he could hear was the rustling of the thou sand leaves which fluttered thick below. As the night drew on he sang and chanted, some times shouted at the top of his voice.

Once he heard a door slam below, and then he was silent, for he said to himself, " Surely they are coming to fetch me." They came not, and he sulkily threw himself down on the hard floor ; but not to sleep, for the sound of wheels upon the gravel called him to the loop-hole, and again he shouted, but the crunching of the wheels faded into the old dull silence, and with a sigh he lay down again. He was dozing when the sound of a trumpet seemed to ring in his ear. He started up ; the noise of horse-hoofs ap proaching in regular order was plainly audible. Was the sieur calling together his tenantry ? Was he planning a revolt in imitation of that of Quillebœuf? Again all was silent. The Jesuit shivered; he was cold, tired, and faint with hunger. Again he threw himself down, but this time on his knees, his head leaning heavily against the cold wall.

He prayed, and the angel of sleep spread her wings over him, and weighed down his reluctant eyelids. The jingle of a spur upon the stone steps outside once more aroused him. . With the energy of des pair he shouted, " He hears me, he stops ! " It was the Sieur de Cornelli whom Beretti heard ascending the steps to the secret chamber in the floor below him. "What voice is that, Philippe?" said the sieur; "let us go higher and unravel this wonder." So the two came to Beretti's door. " Qui est la ? " shouted de Cornelli. "C'est moi, le Pere Beretti!" answered a voice inside. Immediately the key was turned in the lock, and the prisoner and the fugitive confronted one another. "What is the meaning of this, Monsieur le Confesseur?" said the sieur, in a cold and haughty tone, into which entered a secret note of surprise.

" Ask your serviteurs — ask your maitre d'hotel that question, sire ! ". " Ma foi ! He is beyond my questioning ; he is dead ! " " Dead ? Then what has happened ? " " I will tell you when you have explained to me what you are doing in this tower." " I have been incarcerated here against my will, as you very well know ; if you have come here to mock me, say so." " To mock you — no ! I and my son have come here to seek shelter from your wolf-dogs — the dragoons. Perhaps you will modify your resentment when I tell you that we are, like yourself, -prisoners. in this tower." "The dragoons here !" cried the Jesuit, his little black eyes sparkling with joy and surprise. " Then I will go and confer with the officer, and you may depend on my good services for your liberty." " I crave your pardon," said the sieur, planting himself in the doorway ; " it would be folly to let you escape so.

On the contrary, we must in vite you to accept of our hospitality, so long as we stay here. I will take care, monsieur, that a chair be sent you, and in return for this you shall write me out a free pass, stating that your life is forfeit in case aught happens to me." The father bowed and assented, remarking that it was not likely the dragoons would allow either of them to remain long concealed. Then Philippe, with his father, sought the secret chamber below. By this time many of the dragoons were beginning to yawn and stretch their long limbs and quit the damask couches or velvet fauteuils into which as many as could had intruded their muddy and blood-bedabbled forms. There was a savoury steam pervading the servants' halls, about which were already clustered some dozen soldiers, ushering in the day with a flagon or two of red wine ; others were pouring in from bed-chambers or reception-rooms where they had passed part of the night, and were lounging in the great hall, whilst the servants in their red livery were preparing a substantial ddjeuner in the dining-hall.

In contrast to the green and yellow coats of the dragoons, with their tall-pointed hats which drooped over one shoulder, was the black cowl and hood of the Benedictine, as he gesticulated and out-argued Father Beauvais. The latter gentleman, half feeling that his occupation was gone, by no means looked cheerfully upon the uninvited guests. And his zeal for the uni versal Church was considerably modified by his regard for vested interests. His rubicund face wore a puzzled look, and the constrained smile with which he met the salutations of the soldiers said as pleasantly as possible, " Sapristi ! what do you want here ? " For Father Beauvais had a round habit of swearing, and of swearing roundly, when his ecclesiastical superiors were out of the way. Upon coming downstairs, after sleeping three in a bed with two greasy ser geants, who much incommoded him, he had discovered from the chef de cuisine that a week's provisions were being consumed at one ddjeuner, and with the unselfish regard for his patron's interests which always marked him, he had indulged in some pardonable spleen on the occasion.

And now that nasty, prying, unwashed Benedictine was making a hubbub because Father Beretti was not to be found ! The more the monk shouted, and the more the priest held his stomach with disclaiming hands, the more did the idle troopers crowd round them ; and when they found out that a Jesuit was missing, such a Babel of tongues clacked to statements and counter-statements, that appetites got themselves unaccountably sharpened in the process. And when the great bell was rung, but alas ! no longer by the old serviteur, the venerable bell of the Abbey of Mont St. Michel — the dragoons rushed like wild beasts to their food, and the whole place re-echoed with the clatter of their spurs and long trailing swords. How long the feast would have lasted it is impossible to say, had not an interruption called them off in the middle of it.

Just when the cider and the gascon wine were beginning to loosen their tongues and make them ready for any frolic that might be toward, the Bene dictine appeared at the door dragging in by the collar a poor mud-stained and bleeding prisoner, whose countenance was hidden by his large chapeau, which had fallen over his eye. VOL. 11. ,c " Voila, messieurs ! " hoarsely shouted the monk ; " I have brought you a prisoner who can tell where le Pere Beretti is confined. Shall we put him to the question ? " A hundred voices shouted " Aye ! " and all rose or turned round on their benches to look at the captive. A smart-looking young officer then approached, and tapping the poor wretch on the shoulder, said — " Thou hearest what these gentlemen say ? Wilt thou confess, or must we to the torture with thee ?

" The old man lifted up his eyes, and with a hand pointing upwards replied, " The Lord is on my side ; I will not fear what man can do unto me." A loud yell of delight greeted this speech, for the demon of cruelty had entered into them, and they thought that he would prove obstinate enough to afford them good sport. " ' Entete comme un Breton,' as the proverb goes," murmured the young officer. Meanwhile a brazier of hot coals had been brought into the hall, and the monk, whose pitted face was now enlivened by a fiendish grin, ordered two of the soldiers to hold him down upon the live coals, which had been placed on a low wooden settle. "And now, Master Pierre, it may be worth your while to confess," said the. Benedictine, turning back his sleeves. Poor Pierre no sooner felt himself seated on the brazier than he uttered an involuntary " Oh !

" and tried to get up ; but the soldiers held him down. A peal of laughter burst from the spectators. One or two women-servants had their apron-corners in their eyes, for Pierre had been a favourite. " Oh ! oh ! " ejaculated the victim, writhing with agony ; and beads of perspiration forced themselves out upon his brow. At last one of the women, unable to contain her pity, burst through the ring of soldiers and rushed up to her fellow-servant, falling down on her knees before him and whispering, " Oh, for Jesus' sake, Master Pierre, confess where the Jesuit is." Pierre pulled the woman close to him and whispered back, " Ecoutez done, the master's horse and Master Philippe's pony are in the kennel stables, and belike they are now in the tower. I fear to betray my good master." " What saith the pig of a Huguenot ?

" shouted several voices. " Find out for yourselves, cowards that ye are, all of ye!" vociferated the woman, with clenched fist. " Seize that woman ! " shouted the monk, trying to follow her ; but the soldiers, content with one victim, had made way for her to pass. Twice Pierre asked for mercy, twice they allowed him to stand up, and twice when released he maintained an obstinate silence. " Let the dog have some water," cried the monk. And soon one entered with a pail of water, which they endeavoured to pour down Pierre's throat ; but the old serviteur, weak with loss of blood from the wounds he had received on the road, fell into a swoon, and it became useless to torture him any further. He was carried out and thrown on the grass in front of the chateau. " Les maudits ! " muttered Father Beauvais, with a dark scowl at the soldiers, and knelt beside the fainting man with a cordial, which he applied to his parched and parted lips.

It was some time before he opened his eyes, and when he did, they were red and wild with terror, and rolled unconsciously ; then a gleam of intelligence flashed in them as they rested on the familiar features of Father Beauvais. " Did I confess ? " gasped out Pierre, wearily anxious. " Non, non, mon ami ; confess ? never ! Thou didst hold out like a martyr of the true Church, staunch to the last ; and when they tried thee with the ordeal of water — les monstres ! — nature came to thy aid and hushed thee to sleep, poor soul ! " " The Lord be praised for all His mercies !" said Pierre ; and the tears were rolling down his cheeks. Father Beauvais wept too.

Chapter II

When the dragoons had made themselves masters of the coach in which madame and the two young ladies were riding, they turned the horses' heads homewards ; but a small detach ment of troopers was sent on to get ready a light carriage and four horses from the sieur's stable. Among the officers who commanded the regiment of dragoons there rode a tall and handsome cavalier, evidently not of the king's troops, for he wore no uniform, but was dressed in black velvet, and the cross of St. Michael sparkled on his broad breast. He seemed to be of higher rank than the others, and though he kept himself out of notice, yet the officers kept referring to him for instructions. When the lighter carriage, harnessed with four black horses, came in sight, the coach was stopped, and an officer requested the ladies to alight and transfer themselves to the " carosse," but finding that madame had fainted and was ill, it was settled that the two "demoiselles" should go alone.

So Mathilde joined her mistress in the glass coach, and Ethel and Marie entered the " carosse," being reassured by one of the officers, who told them that their destination was a convent, and every care would be taken of them. For two hours or more they both wept and trembled, as they recalled the fearful scene they had just witnessed, or pictured the terrible fate which might befall the others. The leather curtains were fastened down, so that they could see nothing of the road ; but violent jerks and joltings made them nestle together, encircling each other with friendly arms, and so, riding through the night and the grey dawn, they fell asleep. When they awoke, the carriage had stopped, the curtains were drawn back, and they perceived they were in a town. "Welcome to Avranches!" said the tall cavalier, advancing hat in hand.

Marie looked at his face and recognized with a shudder the Comte de Pontorson. Coffee was brought into the parlour of the hostelrie, though it was still so early that few were stirring. In a few minutes they were again on the road with four fresh horses. "See !" said Marie to her companion, as they were beginning to descend the brow of the lofty and precipitate hill upon which Avranches stands ; "see yonder star of gold glittering out at sea ; the morning mist is melting beneath the new-born sun. Ah ! the enchanted towers rise, the gloomy rock starts from the bosom of 'the treacherous sands ! " " What is it ? " cried Ethel, straining her eyes to look at what seemed an apparition of an island rising out of the sea. " Yon glittering star is the golden figure of St. Michael which crowns the topmost pinnacle of the abbey ; yon rock on which the abbey is built is the far-famed Mount St. Michael, the smaller, to the right, is named Tombelaine."

Ethel gazed with a feeling of awe upon the spot to which she had heard so many Norman devotees had made a pilgrimage. The mount at this moment was concealed at its base by the sea-fog, which also hid the vast expanse of sand which at low water rolls between the rock and the shore. But the summit and the bluff pre cipitous crags loomed out black in the morning sunshine, as a sudden flaw from the north-west blew aside the aerial veil. It was but a momentary glimpse the travellers caught as they descended the winding road towards Pontorson ; soon they were among the green fields, the orchards, and the sluggish rivers which crossed the road to mingle with the sands of the Gulf of St. Malo. But they minded not the half-reaped fields nor the squalid, emaciated, war-stricken peasantry that, clad in goat-skins, crouched among the apple trees, or waded after fish in the turbid streams, so strong had been the fascination of that weird and solitary mount, with its legendary powers.